Domestic
cats are descended from the
European wild cat, African wild cat and Asiatic desert cat. At some point these
ancestors of our modern day cats, began coming into the cities to hunt the abundant rodents that were attracted by peoples food stores
and are thought to have been human human companions for over 5000 years.

People welcomed wildcats when they realized that they were
killing off the rodents that stole their food and people would leave scraps of food outside
their houses to encourage the wildcats to stay near and hunt at their home and
still today cats are valued for their ability to control rats and mice.

Cats made towns and cities their homes as there they had more than enough to
eat, comfortable shelter and the protection of humans. Domestic cats now live on
every continent except Antarctica and have evolved into over fifty distinct
breeds with 36 recognised breeds of pedigree.

These
intelligent, inquisitive and social animals in their wild state would range over
1-2 square miles to hunt but today they are comfortable in a small garden
providing they have a human to care for
them and supply all their needs.

How to know if your cat is happy and healthy:A happy or contented cat will sleep a lot, eat well, go outside or use its
litter box to toilet. It will have clean shiny fur and be affectionate
especially near mealtime.

Cats are clean animals, they licking themselves clean which results in fur
collecting in their stomachs and they remedy this by eating grass to aid their
digestion and get rid of the fur.

Like us, as cats age and are also susceptible to obesity, arthritis and other
degenerative diseases. An unhealthy cat will sleep a lot, meow, purr and
complain, its fur will look dull, display impaired movement, it may eat less,
vomit or have diarrhea and may toilet in inappropriate places.

Some symptoms of
failing feline health are:

Inappropriate elimination behaviour

Changes in mood and interactions

Changes in activity patterns

Changes in sleeping habits

Unexplained weight loss or gain

Changes in food and water consumption

Changes in grooming

Signs of stress

Changes in vocalization

Bad breath or odour

Cats Need:

Feeding 2x daily unless they are catching and eating rats and mice.

Cats require a meat based diet and

they must have fat in their diet as they are unable to produce it on their
own.

Fresh clean water 24/7

A home/yard and territory that they feel secure

Boundaries or rules

Attention and affection

Cat Facts

Cats have a personality

Owning a cat is good for our health and can decrease the occurrence of high
blood pressure and other illnesses.

Stroking a cat helps to relieve stress

The feel of a purring cat on your lap conveys a strong sense of security and
comfort.

A cat has 230 bones.

A cat's hearing is much more sensitive than humans and dogs.

The cat's tail helps it to maintain balance.

Cats see six times better in the dark and at night than humans.

A healthy cat has a temperature between 38 and 39 degrees celcius.

The the male cat reaches sexual maturity between 9 and 12 months and female cat
at around 6 to 10 months. Cat pregnant lasts for approximately 9 weeks or
between 62 and 65 days from conception to delivery with an average litter of 2 - 6 kittens.

Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly
when they are distressed or in pain.

Cats need taurine in their diet to avoid blindness.

When a cats rubs up against you, the cat is marking you with it's scent claiming
ownership.

Disclaimer:All Information is provided for
educational purposes only and not intended
to be used for any therapeutic purpose, neither is it intended to diagnose,
prevent, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care
professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
While attempts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this information,
The Health Information Network does not accept any responsibility for any errors or
omissions.